When most people start talking about decluttering, they focus on the clutter in their house. But it is equally, if not more important to think about how it got there in the first place and current clutter collecting habits that add to the problem.
As soon as you start decluttering your house, you should also plan to stop clutter from coming in so you don’t end up in an endless cycle of incoming and outgoing clutter. It may not be obvious at first to identify your clutter collecting habits, but by making a few changes, it will become clear.
Things you may want to consider doing/stopping:
- Cancel subscriptions to shopping catalogs and unsubscribe from emails encouraging you to shop.
- Create two lists for items you plan on adding to your home. A WANT list and a NEED list.
- Limit yourself to shopping once a week (or a specified amount that works for your family) and only get what is on your need list.
- Let want list items simmer for awhile. Chances are, you will realize you can live without the items and remove them from your list.
- Before buying any want list item, visualize where you will keep it in your home.
- For special occasions, plan an experience or buy consumables for your family members.
- Put a halt on accepting freebies.
If you can reduce the number of items entering your home, it will save you a lot of hassle later deciding what clutter needs to go and what is worth staying.
Happily Decluttered offers in-home decluttering sessions to help you declutter and stay decluttered! Contact me for more information.
Yes. Cancel subscriptions to shopping catalogs and unsubscribe from emails. Yes I am doing it. After living in my home for 10 years I am doing a major clean up. Not exactly clutter but take away boxes and bottles and jars ect are going to the Recycling bins. Even getting down most of my groceries by I net to save time and energy to read and post articles on my websites. Thanks for your advice too. <3
Great ideas. Haven’t seen you in a while so glad you are back.
Not sure what happened so doing it again. Good to see you.
Good to see you too! My goal is monthly posts. 🙂